ReMix: Pokémon Red Version 'Moondrops'
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- Game: Pokémon Red Version (Nintendo, 1996, GB)
- ReMixer(s): Sockpuppet
- Composer(s): Junichi Masuda
- Song(s): 'Mt. Moon Cave'
- Posted: 2012-10-24, evaluated by the judges
Another Pokémon ReMix from another newcomer? You better believe it... following Dasgust comes Sockpuppet with this affable rock/pop jam featuring a variety of synths, piano, and a lot of structural variety to match. Of his initial submission, he writes:
"While I think the general hatred towards the Pokemon soundtrack here is largely undeserved, I have to admit that this particular source tune is kinda crap. However I do kind of like the first section, and it was this bit that got stuck in my head, which lead to me making this remix. This was all done in Reason. At first I was going to make it a lot more like the original but after messing around with it on the keyboard for a bit I decided to convert it from minor to major (I think...). And then I realized that this made the majority of the source completely unusable... =/ As a result this remix is pretty liberal, but I think it's still over the minimum source usage limit. ;)"
For his modified resubmission, he adds:
"Thanks for all your feedback on the first version! I finally got around to fixing this up. This one's mixed a bit better and has an actual transition in the middle, and there's some slight changes to the arrangement. Also, thanks again to Emunator for the title and feedback, and to TheGuitahHeroe, redtails, tydin, Guifrog and DarkSim for giving feedback at various stages. :D"
First off, kudos for coming back to this & incorporating feedback; there's a simplicity & innocence to the main melody here that I think deserve some attention, and for the most part the rock/ballad setting, especially when acoustic piano and the slightly-delayed bell patch are on melody, capitalize on that. Some bits where the bass was absent struck me as a little empty, and I think when you transition this much it's difficult to maintain momentum, but overall I like the mellow, happy-go-lucky vibe and the inclusion of some drum fills was a nice point of interest. halc writes:
"I always thought this was a nice approach to the source, and is nicely improved from the last version. really like the bit with the piano and portamento'd synth in the middle. some of the sounds still feel weirdly mixed, like the rhodes which feels really hollow, and that viloin lead that interweaves with the leads sometimes. feeling it overall though, and the chiptune breakdown at the end was tight. nice work"
Liontamer adds:
"...I think I know when weird instrument combinations are fully clicking and when they aren't. They aren't 100% clicking here, and some leads being obscured ended up being the biggest negative for me, but the production execution was competent enough to get by and was buoyed some by the arrangement & interpretation being creative and strong."
Pretty much; I'm glad Sockpuppet kept with this & refined it, I feel like it's an accessible piece that puts a nice twist on the source, but there's also room for improvement in branching out from stock Reason sounds & putting together something perhaps a little shorter but also tighter. We'll see what the future holds, but in the meantime enjoy the mix!
Discussion: Latest 11 comments/reviews; view the Anyway, definitely digging the laid back feel, and I like how well you shifted it to major. Nice Work!
- TheRexAsaurous on December 3, 2012
Congratulations on getting posted after all these years!
- DarkSim on November 11, 2012
Beautiful mix, one of my new favorite Pokemon Mixes on the site.
- Divock on October 25, 2012
- metaphist on October 25, 2012
Congrats Sockpuppet! I'm still not so keen on those ton-tons at the beginning, but why should I complain about such a small thing. The song as a whole is quite a jewel, especially when you compare it to the original. :nicework:
- Guifrog on October 25, 2012
- Geoffrey Taucer on October 25, 2012
As for the mix itself, I really dig it, despite the fact that it's not the kind of music than I really get into. It's really mellow and easy going without being flaccid and boring like most "chill" music is. This is easily my favorite Pokemon mix on the site. Looking forward to hearing what Sockpuppet does next.
- Hydrargyria on October 24, 2012
I usually don't like such liberal Mixes, but this has such an odd charm that I can't deny. I'm certainly looking forward to seeing more contributions from Sockpuppet, this is definitely worth the download.
- Watarimono on October 24, 2012
Congratulations sockpuppet I knew you had it in you to get your mix posted. :D
Hope to hear more from you.
- psychowolf on October 24, 2012
Glad to see my favorite series getting more coverage. And the source tune is a good choice as well.
- The Damned on October 24, 2012
